Guest: Dr Robert “Tito” Norris, Orthodontist, Stone Oak Orthodontics

📌 Episode Overview:

In this episode of the Orthodontic Products Podcast, sponsored by OrthoFX, host Alison Werner talks with Dr Robert “Tito” Norris about why he made the decision to switch from a major aligner system to OrthoFX. Drawing from more than 30 years in practice—and his own experience as a patient—Norris explains the clinical and material science differences he discovered when comparing aligner systems side by side. He shares how super-elastic materials, reduced force levels, and streamlined workflows have changed outcomes for his patients and his practice.

For orthodontists questioning whether it’s time to reevaluate their aligner system, Norris offers candid insight into what to consider, what’s at stake, and why patient comfort and clinical predictability should drive decision-making.

⏱️ Chapters

00:03 Introduction to Dr. Tito Norris

01:12 Early experiences with aligners and attachment design

04:26 Why challenging cases led him to explore alternatives

06:26 Comparing three aligner systems side by side

09:06 The patient perspective: treating himself with OrthoFX

09:44 The role of material science in aligner performance

13:39 Super-elastic plastics vs multi-layer materials

16:23 Impact on refinements, attachments, and appointments

17:34 Practice workflow and staff integration

19:53 Why now is the time for orthodontists to reassess aligner systems

✅ Key Takeaways:

🔹 Traditional multi-layer plastics can deliver heavy forces, while OrthoFX’s material mimics nickel-titanium for gentler, more predictable movement.

🔹 In treating himself, Norris achieved his expansion goals with fewer aligners, fewer attachments, and no refinements—an outcome that also benefits patient comfort.

🔹 For practices, fewer refinements and appointments translate into efficiency gains, while studies showing higher effectiveness raise important questions about when to consider switching systems.

🔹 The patient experience improves with lighter forces and less chair time, underscoring how material advances can reshape both outcomes and satisfaction.

🔹 Norris frames the decision as more than a clinical choice—it’s about ethical responsibility to use materials that move teeth effectively while minimizing unnecessary force.

👤 Guest Bio:

Robert “Tito” Norris, DDS, is a board-certified orthodontist in private practice at Stone Oak Orthodontics in San Antonio, Tex. A graduate of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School, he completed a general practice residency at the VA hospital in Washington, DC, and his orthodontic specialty training at Howard University. After serving as a U.S. Air Force orthodontist, he returned to San Antonio to open his practice. Norris, who lectures both nationally and internationally, holds several patents and trademarks, and is the inventor of the Norris 20/26 Passive Self-Ligating Bracket System.

Sponsor: OrthoFX

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